appelman



PPELMAN. D GA (No Model.) 2 Shta-Sheet 1 E. W. A PLATFORM AN TE FOR CARS.

No. 497,744. Patented May 16, 1893.

(No Model.) -2"Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. W. APPBLMAN. PLATFORM AND GATE FOR CARS.

Nb.'497,744. Patented May 16, 1893.

\ ll ll ll l'l x \A I'TNEEEEEH B INVENTDPQ f5- 41; 644E; kfjam UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERASTUS W. APPELMAN, OF OLERMONT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO R. P. BERRY, OF SAME PLACE.

PLATFORM AND GATE FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,744, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed August 29, 1892. Serial No. 444.346. (110 model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASTUS W. APPELMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Clermont, in the county of Fayette and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Platform-Balconies forRailway- Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a mechanical device whereby an ordinary passenger car platform can be instantly converted into a balcony with a railing on all sides and a floor covering the steps, and permitting the full width of the car for a platform balcony, which balcony can be used for observation with perfect safety as it is inclosed on all sides and is intended as a safeguard against accidents to passengers as it closes the entrance to the steps before the train starts and persons on the platform are guarded against falling off at all times. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the platform balcony in position. Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the balcony folded up when the car is receiving or discharging passengers. Fig. 3. is a side elevation showing the balcony in position. Fig.4 is an end elevation showing the balcony folded up. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the rollers and guard for the same on side of the car. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the connection of the actuating rod H and the plate E.

Let A be any ordinary car platform and B the steps thereof and O the front end of the car and D the side of the car. To the front end of the car on a level with the floor of the platform there is pivoted at a, plate E and at the outside inner corner there is a projecting arm F, pivoted by a link G to the end of the rod 11, the lower end of which rod H is held in a keeper I. Said rod H extends up along to the corner of the car and is pivoted to a rock shaft J, which rock shaft J is held in bearings b b on the end of the car and the rock shaft J is provided with an actuating arm K. The plate E is provided at its outer corner with a projection L which furnishes a bearing for the small roller Z.

On the side of the car D there is pivoted by means of the rollers m m m m the plate M.

This plate M is provided with a slot 0 in its forward end in which the roller Z is held and adapted to travel up and down in the operation of the device. The plate M is provided with guards or casings Nfor the rollers m m m m and acover plate n forthe slot 0 and roller Z. These casings N serve to cover the rollers m from view and to protect them from sleet and ice and the top one serves to round the edge of the plate M making a better railing for the balcony. At the forward end of this plate M there is provided a catch or an engaging device P which engages the end railing of the platform S when the balcony is in use. The plate M is shown as being embossed to improve its appearance, for this plate M there can besubstituted a lattice frame work of any desired design. To protect the rollers m from snow and ice a guard T is fastened on the side of the car projecting out over the plate M and its fasteners. This guard is shown only in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 and in Fig. 3 a part of it only is shown. On the lower edge of the plate E there is provided the ordinary hand rail R which when the balcony is folded back serves the purpose of the ordinary hand rail.

When at stations and the car is receiving and discharging passengers the balcony is folded back in the positions of Figs. 2 and 4t and preceding the departure of the train the brakeman lifts up the handle K which, by means of the rock shaft J pulls up the rod H which through the link G pulls up the pivot F which causes the plate E to revolve forward on its pivots a and falls to the position of Figs. 1 and 3 covering the steps and thereby extending the floor of the platform the full width of the car, and as the plate E revolves to the position of Figs. 1 and 3 the roller Z working in the slot 0 draws forward the plate M and when home the catch P engages the front railing S which completes the balcony and on arriving at a station the operator pulls down the lever K and thereby throws up the plate E and back to plate M leaving the way clear to passengers.

What I claim is- 1. A platform for a car provided with the ordinary steps thereof, a movable cover for said steps pivoted to the car and adapted to be folded up to clear the steps and passage 4. A car platform, the combination of a 25 Way and to be let down coveringsaid steps plate E covering and uncovering the steps and forming part of the fioorof the platform. thereof and pivoted to the car; and an actusaid movable cover provided with a hand rail ating mechanism consisting of a rock shaft 5 on its under or outer side adapted to be used J rod H, link G and projection F,

as the ordinary hand rail when the cover is substantially as shown. 3 up substantially as shown and described. 5. A car platform havinga plate pivoted to 2. A car platform having a plate E pivthe car and adapted to cover and uncover the oted to the car, substantially as shown, and steps, combined with an actnat-ingmechanism, ro connected to and actuated, in folding, by a 'which actuating mechanism is provided with rod H extending up from said plate, at the a handle K near the door of the car, and a 35 corner of the car, and said rod I-l' connected rook shaft J and connecting rod H eX- to a hand lever by which the device is oper- Itending'down the corner of the car and conated, substantially as described. neoted to the plate, in combination with a 15 3. A car platform having a plate E pivgate closing and unclosing the entrance to the oted to the car, adapted to cover and uncover platform, pivoted to the car and to the before 40 the steps thereof, combined with a gate M mentioned plate, substantially as shown; closing the entrance to the steps, said gate In testimony whereof Iaffix my signaturein M held in ways on the ontsidethe car and the presence of two witnesses. 20 adapted to be drawn forward in the lowering of the plate E and driven back by the rais- ERASTUS' APPILLMAN' ing the plate E, said gate M connected Witnesses: to said plate E by a slot and roller, sub- S. M. BROWN,

stantially as shown. L. W. MURPHY. 

